"I have always been someone who loved words. Meanings of things brought a meaning to my life. I spent countless hours in bookstores and libraries studying new words and finding the right ones to describe how I was feeling. But one night, as I was driving around with my friends at 2am in my college town, I had this overwhelming feeling of gratitude and love. I have spent so much time searching for the word to describe such an immense feeling and I have not found one yet. For now, I will just call it Kailyn. Or Tristan. Or Jamal. Or Red. Or Miranda. Or Jordan. Or Seth. Because I have not found a word for the happiness I felt that night, but I sure know who caused it."
I wrote this poem not too long ago and it gave me the idea to write about my wonderful friends. I have never felt more complete than I did the second this group of people came into my life. I now know, with confidence, the makings of a genuine friend.
Let us start with the most obvious part, the heart. A true friend has a heart that wishes only the best things for you. A person who goes out of their way to help you and someone who gives you the love you deserve. This is a person with a heart of a good friend. Sometimes it is hard to spot a good heart, so here are some tips. Look for the person who takes care of everyone. Look for the person whose compassion can be felt the second they walk into a room. I find this in my friend Tanda.
Next, a true friend must have a positive energy. This is usually a little easier to spot. A person with a positive energy is usually one who has everyone around them smiling. These are the kind of people who go above and beyond to make sure your day is pure and full of joy. I find this in my friend Tristan.
You also can tell a lot about the character of a friend based on their hands. A good friend will have worn hands from all of their prayers. A good friend prays for you and places you next to God in their heart. A good friend not only wants you to succeed, but will pray that you do. A kind of friend that's faith is so strong that it inspires your own faith is a gift from God. This is something my friend, Kailyn, posses.
A friend with a mouth that is clean from lies is a necessity. Everyone needs someone who will tell them when their hair looks bad or their breath smells rank. A friend that will not lie to you or twist the truth just to save you from hurt feelings. This is my friend Jamal.
A good friend also has the confidence that radiates towards everyone he/she loves. To have a friend like this is to have someone who will constantly remind you of your own worth and your importance. This is the type of friend who will inspire you to be the best you can and to show the world your true self. This is something my friend Red has.
A friend with strong arms is a friend that will always be there to lift you up after you have fallen. To have this kind of friend means you will always have someone to rely on. Your car breaks down, they have your back. You need some help, their hand is stretched out and ready to pull you up. This is a good friend and this is my friend Seth.
A friend who has a brain that will always remember you and one that will always think of you is important. To have someone that will randomly send you a gift or send words of encouragement is vital to maintaining a healthy self-image. To have a friend that will remind you of all the happy stories and moments will leave you very content. This is my friend Jordan.
To have friends that make you want to be a better person is one of the greatest things a person can receive in this life. Cherish those who show you love, who bring you joy, who give you faith, who show you the truth, who loves your imperfections, who lifts you up and who reminds you that you are important. Find this in your friends and you will have { almost } all you need.
